Pre-18 voter registration in New Jersey
In New Jersey 111,019 people turn 18 every year.
New Jerseyans can pre-register before turning 18.
pre-register before turning To register to vote in New Jersey, you must be: 17 years old.
That means all eligible seniors and most juniors in your high school can register to vote today and vote at 18*.
Learn more about the voter registration gap in New Jersey.
*In New Jersey, 17-year-olds can vote in primaries if they will be 18 by Nov 3rd, 2026.
High school students can help one another get ready to vote.
Next Steps!
How to Register to Vote in New Jersey
Upcoming Statewide or Federal Elections:
- Nov 3rd, 2026 - New Jersey General Election (Register by Oct 13th, 2026)
Useful Links:
- Registration Form - Download the paper registration form for New Jersey.
- Registration Status - Check if you are already registered, your polling place, and more from your state’s voter registration website.
- Fair Elections Center - Learn about conducting a registration drive in New Jersey.
- Vote 411 - A nonpartisan resource to help you register, preview your ballot, and find key election information from the League of Women Voters.
- VoteRiders - Find out what forms of ID you can use to register and vote, and get help getting a valid form of ID.
Full Registration Details
By Mail: ID Requirements
To submit a voter registration application by mail in New Jersey, you must provide your New Jersey driver's license number OR Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) non-driver ID card number, if you have one. If you do not have either of these ID numbers, you must instead provide the last four digits of your Social Security number.
If you have not been issued any of these ID numbers, indicate this on the form. New Jersey will assign you a unique identification number.
By Mail: Eligibility Requirements
To register in New Jersey you must:
be a United States citizen
be at least 17 years old (you must be at least 18 to vote, except that you may vote in a primary election if you are 17 and will be 18 by the next general election)
be a resident of the state of New Jersey and the county in which you register for at least 30 days before the election in which you vote
not be serving a sentence of incarceration as the result of a conviction of any indictable offense under the laws of New Jersey or another state or of the United States
By Mail: New Voter Instructions
If you are registering to vote for the first time in your county and submit your registration application by mail, federal law requires you to provide proof of identification. Include an acceptable ID number, if you have one, on your application. If you do not have an acceptable ID number, you must instead submit with your application a COPY of identification documentation OR show proof of identification when you vote. Acceptable forms of identification include a current and valid photo ID OR a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and address. More information about these requirements is available on the National Voter Registration Form.
Online Instructions
To register online in New Jersey, you need to provide your New Jersey driver’s license number OR non-driver ID card number issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). If you do not have a New Jersey-issued ID, you must provide your Social Security number AND use a device that allows you to sign on-screen or upload your signature. If you don’t have any of the above, you can still submit a voter registration application by mail.
More information here.
New Jersey High School Educators!!!
Support your students’ voter registration effort with our free toolkit.
New Jersey Requirements for High School Voter Registration
Public and private high schools must provide voter-registration forms and civic-participation information to seniors.
School district and private school administrators must provide the executive county superintendent with a statement of assurance concerning their distribution of voter registration forms and civic participation information.
About this information
This page presents a curated compilation of voting and election information, specifically geared toward high school students, their families, and educators.
Information about deadlines and voting laws is retrieved via the Democracy Works Elections API and was last retrieved on Jul 6th, 2026; the API compiles election guidance from official government sources and other vetted data providers, and details may change over time. Information concerning requirements for high schools is based on The Civics Center’s analysis of State Requirements for High School Voter Registration and was last updated on Jun 22nd, 2026.
Information about youth turning 18 each year is from the U.S. Census, and information on the number of 18-year-olds who have not yet registered is based on applying TCC’s analysis of Census data and state voter files. We also provide links to trusted resources, including VoteRiders (for voter ID information) and Fair Elections Center (for information about laws governing voter registration drives).
These pages are offered for guidance only and are not intended as legal advice. Please consult state election officials or an attorney if you have questions about any particular situation. We hope you find this useful. To cite our resources and original research, please provide links and/or cite The Civics Center.
© 2026 The Civics Center
